Chapter 4, the Natural Philosophers Summary

Sophie's mother sees Sophie get a letter and thinks that Sophie is getting a love letter. Inside the envelope is the question "Is there a basic substance?" and other questions. In a large, brown package, there is another written lesson from the unknown philosophy teacher. The course asks, what is the philosophic project or goal of each philosopher? The course looks at the fragments of the first known philosophers from the ancient Greek world. Thales says that water is the source of all things. Anaximander thinks that the world is created from the boundless, that is, substance that is not limited by being in something already created. Anaximenes believes that everything comes from air. These philosophers all believe that there is one basic substance, but the question is how it changes and transforms itself into everything in...